China's Zhang Hong (L) competes during the women's 1500m speed skating competition at the 2017 Sapporo Asian Winter Games in Obihiro, Japan, Feb. 21, 2017. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao)
Olympic champion Zhang Hong: Sports spirit shapes my life.
LAUSANNE, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Zhang Hong explained on Saturday how sports had shaped her life.
"The sports spirit has been guiding me through all the difficult times, whether in competition or in life," said the 2014 Olympic champion speed skater following a Chat with Champion session at the Youth Olympic Village.
"I feel that the sports spirit has been and will be influencing my entire life," he said. "For example, when I started to learn English two years ago, I couldn't remember all the words. Then I pushed myself as hard as in the training. I set small objectives and tried step by step, and it worked."
Zhang said that winning a gold medal in the Sochi Olympics is her most unforgettable moment in career, adding that "I will always remember the 2014 Games. Very tough competition."
Gold medalist Zhang Hong of China salutes during the awarding ceremony for the women's 1000m of speed skating at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, Feb. 14, 2014. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
She has never got a chance to participate in the Youth Olympics. "The Youth Olympic Games encourages communication and participation rather than gold medals. It's different from the other Olympic Games," she said.
The Chat with Champion session is part of the Athletes 365 Education Program of IOC, offering exchanges between young athletes and well-known champions. Zhang shared her experience and vision of the sport together with Canadian figure skating Olympic champion Patrick Chan and French ice dancer Nathalie Pechalat.
"Stay in good mood, cherish what you have, and keep studying," Zhang said. "If you feel you can't find your way, it's because you haven't worked hard enough."
Zhang Hong (R), member of Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games bid delegation, hugs Liu Peng, President of Chinese Olympic Committee and Minister of the Gereral Administration of Sport of China, after Beijing won the bid at the 128th International Olympic Committee session in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, July 31, 2015.(Xinhua/Wang Lili)
After becoming an IOC member in 2018, Zhang started taking on more responsibilities. The 31-year-old described her job as "very busy and needing a lot of learning".
Speaking of the 2022 Beijing Games, the member of the Chinese Olympic Committee executive board said: "We will surprise the world in two years." ■
